Over there, Lu Wanning took Jiyue and went to inquire. Soon they reached the long corridor by the waterside pavilion. Sure enough, they saw Prince Yu and the heir of Prince Qishan sitting opposite each other, playing chess.
Lu Wanning walked over cheerfully. Without disturbing them, she sat on a stool beside and watched intently. Go was quite different between ancient and modern times. The original owner didn't like such things much and wasn't proficient in them, but could barely understand the game.
After waiting for about half the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Sheng Jinyu raised his head, his brows slightly knitted. "Does the princess have something to say? You've been here for so long without a word."
Lu Wanning opened her small mouth slightly and blinked her eyes. "Well, I do have something to talk to you about. But they say a true gentleman doesn't speak while watching a game. I thought I'd better not interrupt you and wait until you're done."
The heir of Prince Qishan laughed heartily, put down a white piece, clapped his hands and said, "Alright, alright. Since a beauty has an appointment, I won't be a nuisance. I'd better leave first."
Lu Wanning quickly got up and stopped him. "Don't go, Your Highness. You make it seem like there's something going on between him and me. Our association is proper. There's nothing to hide."
The heir of Prince Qishan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Although he knew that Princess Zhaoyang never played by the rules, it was the first time he had seen someone so outspoken.
Sheng Jinyu glanced at her. "You're afraid of something?"
Lu Wanning widened her eyes. "Why shouldn't I be afraid? Although my reputation is already bad, I can't let it get worse, right? Those people have already gossiped enough about me. It wouldn't be good if they drag you into it later."
The heir of Prince Qishan then sat down again. "Since you're aboveboard, I don't need to avoid suspicion. Shall we continue the game?"
"Continue what? You've lost." Sheng Jinyu put down the chess piece, then turned to Lu Wanning. "What do you want to talk to me about?"
Lu Wanning quickly told him what she wanted. "Well, I've finally found a good gift for the Empress Dowager, but I haven't been able to find a suitable person to inscribe it for me. Coincidentally, my cousin visited my home the other day. When he learned about this, he suggested that I ask Your Highness, Prince Yu, for help."
"Cousin?"
Sheng Jinyu's eyes narrowed. This woman, did she call everyone cousin? Did she forget that she used to chase after him and call him cousin?
Afraid that he didn't understand, Lu Wanning explained further. "Yes, my cousin, He Nanfeng, the third young master of the He family."
Sheng Jinyu didn't say a word.
Lu Wanning opened the cloth bundle, took out the jade screen and placed it on the table. She looked at Sheng Jinyu with a smile. "Your Highness, Prince Yu, what do you think of this jade screen?"
The heir of Prince Qishan exclaimed in admiration. "This jade screen is truly wonderful. The soaring crane on it is so lifelike. It seems to be the work of the Huang family's painter, who has long since disappeared."
Lu Wanning didn't know much about those folk masters. She just nodded repeatedly. "I spent a long time choosing this one."
Sheng Jinyu glanced at it and asked, "Is this for the Empress Dowager?"
Lu Wanning nodded repeatedly. "Yes. The crane has a good meaning. It symbolizes longevity, so it's most suitable for the Empress Dowager. But I... I don't know how to inscribe it, so..."
She looked at Sheng Jinyu guiltily, wondering if she should admit that her calligraphy was bad.
"Alright."
Lu Wanning was stunned. "Huh?"
Sheng Jinyu put away the jade screen, nodded and said, "Alright, I promise you. I'll inscribe the jade screen properly when I get back. I'll definitely return it to you before the New Year's Eve palace banquet."
Lu Wanning clapped her hands happily. "Thank you, Your Highness, Prince Yu. Thank you, Your Highness!"
...
Meanwhile, after being slapped by Lu Wanning, He Chan went to Lu Yingshuang's room aggrievedly. She covered herself with the quilt and cried loudly. Then she threw off the quilt and said angrily, "Who does she think she is? How dare she hit me? When I get back, I will, I will..."
These were harsh words, but her momentum gradually faded. Even if she was in the right, it would be useless to tell her parents and elder brother when she got back. Her father would always say that she shouldn't go out and cause trouble.
The more she thought about it, the sadder she became. He Chan lay on the bed and cried again.
While they had time to cry, Lu Yingshuang didn't. As the hostess, she had to lead the young ladies from various families to play. How could she just sit here listening to He Chan cry?
When the maid came to urge her for the third time, she couldn't sit still anymore. She asked Shi Aohan, "I have to go out. Chan'er, don't be sad. It's not worth it for such a person. Aohan, please accompany Chan'er. I'll leave first."
After Lu Yingshuang left, Shi Aohan reached out and patted He Chan on the shoulder and said softly, "Chan'er, stop crying."
He Chan suddenly sat up and said angrily, "Cousin, you tell me. How could someone like her... bully others with her power and just hit someone? How could anyone like such a person? Such a person doesn't deserve anyone!"
Shi Aohan's eyes flashed. She held He Chan's hand and asked, "Chan'er, tell cousin the truth. Do you feel differently about His Highness, Prince Yu?"
He Chan's eyelids twitched. She immediately shook off Shi Aohan's hand. "No, how could that be..."
But Shi Aohan just turned around and sat on the chair, bowing her head in silence.
He Chan couldn't sit still anymore. She quickly walked over and said in a low voice, "Cousin... actually I..."
"Chan'er!" Shi Aohan looked heartbroken. "I've been with you for more than a year. How can I not know your personality? You may be able to hide it from others, but can you hide it from me?"
Tears streamed down He Chan's face. "I... Cousin, I know, but... but what can I do? Just like you told me, you fell in love with Brother Fu at first sight. You were willing to be with him regardless of the worldly opinions. I..."
"Chan'er!"
Shi Aohan interrupted her. Holding her heart, she said, "It's different for me, Chan'er. I don't care about fame and status. As long as he and I have mutual understanding, that's enough. But you? You know what kind of person His Highness, Prince Yu, is. The He family is the maternal family of the Crown Prince. How can you get involved with Prince Yu?"
He Chan lowered her head and didn't dare to say a word.
Shi Aohan seemed extremely angry. Seeing He Chan like this, she wiped her tears repeatedly. "I've suffered enough from love. You're my younger sister, Chan'er. In my heart, you're just like my own sister. How could I bear to see you suffer like this? I know why you love His Highness, Prince Yu, so much, but... but you two..."
He Chan was already sad and heartbroken. Hearing her cousin's words, she felt even more sorrowful. Her pain was no less than her cousin's. How could the love be cut off so easily?
She immediately held her cousin's hand. "Cousin, I know all this, but I can't control myself, cousin."
Shi Aohan sighed deeply. "You've also read the letters between Prince Fu and me. The reason why Lu Wanning was so quick to break off the engagement with him was that she had her eyes on His Highness, Prince Yu. Chan'er, if Lu Wanning knows that you're also coveting the man she likes, what will she do? Cousin will never let you take risks. Give it up, Chan'er!"